[ad_1]
WASHINGTON — The White House will hold a series of events this week focused on combating gun violence in Black communities as President Joe Biden continues to push Congress to tighten gun laws.
The event, hosted by the newly created White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, begins Monday with a national virtual conference with Black leaders to combat gun violence in their communities. Mr. Biden will send a message that this week will be designated as “Community Violence Awareness Week.”
White House officials will then host a roundtable discussion on gun violence with Black elected officials from around the country. This will be followed by a virtual workshop to connect state and local leaders with federal resources to address gun violence, including community safety programs.
The week, which coincides with Black History Month, will culminate on Friday with a White House ceremony hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris to recognize 31 graduates of the first batch of trainees from the University of Chicago Institute of Criminology’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy. reach.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis that impacts our communities every day,” said Greg Jackson, deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. “While we know action is needed from Congress, there is much that can be done to create a whole-of-government approach to this health crisis, and that is what our team is tasked with doing.”
Preparing to vote: See who’s running for president and compare their positions on important issues with our voter guide
Biden launched the Gun Violence Prevention Office in September to implement executive actions to combat gun violence and measures under the bipartisan Safe Areas Act, passed in 2022 as the first major overhaul of federal firearms laws in 30 years. The implementation of
The legislation provides $750 million in funding to encourage states to enact “red flag laws” that allow police and family members to obtain court orders to temporarily confiscate firearms from individuals who pose a danger. collected.
Biden has repeatedly called on Congress to take additional action in response to mass shootings in the United States. Pass legislation that would reinstate bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and require gun background checks when purchasing guns. But his efforts have not gained traction due to resistance from Republicans in Congress.
Biden, who needs the support of black voters for re-election in the fall, last month touted a “small business boom” among black-owned businesses during his term as president, touting their contributions to local communities. I have worked hard to show that.
After a spike in gun violence during the pandemic, gun violence decreased overall in 2023, including in major cities like Baltimore, St. Louis and Detroit, down 12.4%, according to the White House.
Jackson pointed to funding in the American Rescue Plan Act that went to cities to address public safety, saying, “This is a great way for us to prevent and intervene in community violence across the country. “We believe this is a direct result of the historic investments that we have made.”
The Office of Gun Violence Prevention’s mission is to identify future actions to reduce gun violence, expand partnerships with local and state leaders to address gun violence, and provide support for victims of gun violence and their families. It also means expanding federal support.
Contact Joey Garrison at X (@joeygarrison), formerly known as Twitter.
[ad_2]
Source link
